"That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Some of you may already be familiar with the accompanying photo, which went viral on Facebook. For those of you who are not, what you are looking at is not some kind of ritual Israeli siesta; it’s “Bibi is a loser,” spelled out in Hebrew (לוזר ביבי) by disaffected Israeli soldiers protesting Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel had agreed to yet another ceasefire with archenemy Hamas.
And apparently they did manage to strike a nerve, prompting Netanyahu to defend his decision with this statement:
I realize that there are citizens who expect a harsher military action and we may very well need to do that. But at present, the right thing for the State of Israel is to exhaust this possibility of reaching a long-term cease-fire. As Prime Minister, I have the responsibility, and it is the highest responsibility, to make the right steps to ensure our security. That is what I have done and it is what I will continue to do.
To which your faithful guest contributor responds, “ןכונ, כן” – “Yeah, right.” Instead, this statement by Joel B. Pollak would seem to come much closer to the truth, as well as to express the frustrations of both the pictured soldiers and other Israelis, who, like them, opposed the ceasefire:
When Netanyahu was elected in 2009, he ran on the promise that only he, of all Israel’s leaders, would be able to resist pressure from new U.S. President Barack Obama, whose intention to bully Israel was already clear. In this week’s cease-fire, however, Netanyahu is seen to have buckled to pressure from the Obama administration. Paradoxically, the Iron Dome missile defense system, which helped defend Israeli cities from rocket fire, has become a source of leverage for Obama, since U.S. military aid helps Israel defray its heavy cost.
In other words, any attempted obfuscations on Bibi’s part to the contrary, it’s clear what has really happened here, if for no other reason than that we’ve seen this kabuki dance played out so many times before, through successive U.S. presidential administrations. Once again, the American government and her State Department Arabists have pressured pressured Israel into not defeating her enemies. Is there anyone not suffering from Oslo Syndrome, who does not understand this?
One hopes, when this latest truce is broken, as inevitably it will be, that the umpteenth time will be the charm and that the Israelis will see it in their interest to go all the way with a Gaza version of Operation Defensive Shield that will pacify the Gaza strip and end the Hamas threat permanently. But if, once again, the U.S. intervenes and pressures Netanyahu not to pursue victory, and if, once again, Netanyahu, succumbs to that pressure, would it not be at least refreshing, and quite possibly helpful, if Netanyahu were to stand before his people, and the world, and simply tell the truth that everyone know? Would it not be the forthright and honest thing for Netanyahu, preferably with the U.S. Secretary of State standing beside him, to say something like the following:
In response to a series of attacks on our country and our citizens, the government of Israel called up its reserves as I will order our military command to prepare a ground offensive to conquer the Gaza strip, destroy Hamas and take all necessary steps to pacify the region and guarantee that Gaza will never threaten the Israeli people again, ever.
I am now countermanding my own order and instead ordering our military to stand down while I “negotiate” a new and – as has been the case in every past instance – utterly useless ceasefire through Egyptian president Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, patrons of the very people who initiated the hostilities.
But before I give this order, I want the Israeli people to understand that I am doing this for one reason and one reason only: because our most important ally, the United States of America, has placed on my government and on me personally an overwhelming pressure that no country – a small country, surrounded by genocidal enemies – can afford to resist.
I sincerely wish that the circumstances were different. I wish that the United States government possessed some knowledge of the geopolitics of the Middle East or at least a willingness to learn. Sadly, the U.S. president and his secretary of state have neither. But what they do have is power, and prestige and therefore, as wrong as I believe their order to be – and let us not mince words, an order is exactly what this is – the government of Israel has no choice but to comply.
I hereby humbly apologize and ask the Israeli people’s, and God’s, forgiveness for the destruction, injuries and deaths that we all know will result from this most horrible of decisions.
Mr./Madam Secretary, would you care to comment?
Yes, I know. But I can dream, can’t I?
- Comment (18)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (4)
Comments:
Feb '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
I told a friend of mine last week that if he said that, he would have my support, though not necessarily my vote. I would not have required him to do so with Mrs Clinton present, but it would have been a nice touch.
Edited on November 26, 2012 at 7:57pmOct '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
This is the same problem the West has had since Truman failed to crush the NorKs: The desire to end conflicts at the expense of winning. The only way to win is to destroy your enemy. We didn't beat the Nazis into signing a ceasefire. We obliterated their army, national infrastructure, and civilian population centers. Then we rounded up the surviving Nazis and hanged them. Those who escaped hanging were hunted down all over the globe and assassinated.
Dec '10
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
I suppose when the threat to Israel finally becomes truly existential, the Israeli leadership will just have to refuse to take calls from the White House. Too bad it feels the need to wait until that point.
Nov '10
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Seriously, seriously, can our next candidate make the disbanding of the State Department part of his platform? Scummier people on this Earth, there are not.
Nov '12
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
This reminds me of a funny but bitter article by the Israeli satirist, Ephraim Kishon. It was actually about Henry Kissinger, but it seems eerily relevant to the situation that Israel is now facing.
Here are two brief excerpts:
"His great problem is how to convince the Arabs that he won't give us preferential treatment...His chance came in the Yom Kippur War, when he allayed Egypt's distrust by saving its troops from annihilation."
"And so his great secret will be kept till the end. Till the gesture of withdrawal to the '67 borders, the unwritten international guarantees, the last Arab attack and the final settlement....."
Mar '12
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Sometimes I wonder if Israel should buy a bunch of the same rockets that Hamas sends into Israel regularly. Each time one is sent into Israel, the Israelis should send one back in, from exactly the same distance from the border.
Simple justice. And it would highlight the ongoing attacks. Most of the world does not know that bombs have been directed at Israel on a regular basis for years.
Apr '12
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Scarlet Pimpernel: Sometimes I wonder if Israel should buy a bunch of the same rockets that Hamas sends into Israel regularly. Each time one is sent into Israel, the Israelis should send one back in, from exactly the same distance from the border.
Simple justice. And it would highlight the ongoing attacks. Most of the world does not know that bombs have been directed at Israel on a regular basis for years. · 0 minutes ago
It really is amazing the Israelis put up with it. What other country in the world would show such forbearance if rockets were being lobbed at it? Look what America did when four planes were directed at its places of power. How can they, in all fairness, tell the Israelis to hold back from obliterating Gaza? Can the Americans prevent Israel sending drones into Gaza as they have been doing into different parts of the world? Seems like they can.
Nov '12
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Bill Whittle has it right. Every time Iran or one of its proxies conducts a mission against us or one of our allies, we should take out one of their installations -- a base, a ship, a weapons factory, an airfield. How many Americans (or Nato allies or Israelis) have been killed by Iran-supplied armaments? Why aren't we hitting back? What is wrong with us?
Sep '10
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Loser or not, I'd still take him over our guy.
Jun '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Of course US aid means that Israel has forfeited a bit of its sovereignty and freedom of action. If its neighbors had any sense they would dread the day that aid stops.
Feb '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
There was another rocket attack this evening, with sirens etc. It landed within Gaza.
That does not make it OK.
Feb '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Not fair. You cannot compare aid with embargo of spare parts.
Mar '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
I share the sentiment expressed in the comments above, but I think they’re emotional rather than considered responses. You seem to think that Israel had a better hand than it chose to play. While Israel would have been well within its right to reinsert itself into Gaza and even reoccupy it, what would it accomplish and at what cost? It couldn’t bear the cost of even one Gilad Shalit and it paid dearly for his return. I have no doubt that Hamas was lying in wait for the opportunity to capture some more bargaining chips.
Netanyahu and Barak decided to play for more time. And time will tell whether that was the right move. But I think it’s too soon to be second-guessing that decision, however emotionally satisfying it may be to do so.
Jun '11
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Fair or not, the American alliance (and the now relatively minor military aid and loan guarantees) constrains Israel. It is what it is.
Like I said, I'm not sure the Arabs appreciate how much their lives depend on this constraint. Without it, Israel would strike back much more decisively IMO.
Israel P.
Not fair. You cannot compare aid with embargo of spare parts. · 3 hours ago
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Yes, and today, Germany and Japan are peaceful and prosperous. And the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, since the Israelis were prevented from achieving a similar victory...?
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
I would settle simply with making John Bolton Secretary of State.
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
While Obama remains in office, Benyamin Netanyahu is the leader of the free world, as far as I'm concerned.
Jun '12
Re: "That's Nice, Bibi. Now Tell us How You Really Feel"
Gene Schwimmer, Guest Contributor
I would settle simply with making John Bolton Secretary of State. · 2 minutes ago
Let's make Bolton POTUS.